Model United Nations
"Together we aspire, together we achieve"

Evaluation of the 1976 NMUN Experience
Country: Sweden

Diana L. Aryee

The NMUN provided for me a much needed practical participation in the affairs of the world, but, moreover, it helped me to learn to deal with facts, and debate effectively on them. Also, as an educational experience, it proved to be more than writing notes in class, taking an exam, and forgetting all about the subject later on. The NMUN stayed with me and helped me in looking at the international scene, and different view points with an open mind and weighing the facts on both sides instead of using my emotions to judge a situation. But, above all, my participation in the '76 NMUN taught me how good one feels when one contributes towards the team's efforts, and in return, knows there will always be others ready to pitch in to help where it's needed.

Aside from the fact that I learned a lot about Sweden and the U.N. in general I think I learned an important lesson as an American. I can now see in a different light why the U.S. seems to be in diplomatic trouble. I also lost the academic fear of facing someone from Harvard for example.

I am a returning member and feel most of the true educational experience comes once you are in N.Y. in your own committee interacting with others. For me this was true this year once again. I had done enough preparation before hand to be able to work with others, talking with them, debating with them, and learning from them, and sharing information I had gotten, and they had gotten. This is where it all happens. Dealings with people from all over the country - small schools and bigger ones (much bigger). It made me feel great that our team could and did handle themselves great. I learned much about the other countries, and other people and was glad I was able to be a part of this year's team. Also as a speech major I feel it was of great value to me - the many times I had to speak in front of others.

I really feel NMUN was educational in many respects. First, we were a class working as a team and not out for individual grades. Secondly, we had to combine different skills for one purpose. These skills were research, speech, being able to debate and answer without prepared responses, learning to ask questions when we had to have answers, and of course, the events in New York and how to handle different situations with the knowledge of what we had learned.

The educational experiences are many and varied. I will say this, this NMUN course has taught me how to become a better public speaker, how to get along with different people from different backgrounds, and finally how to interact with different people. In essence it has helped me to become a more round human being. This course should definitely be carried over for future years.

Participation in the 1976 NMUN team was an experience that I will always value. Compared to other courses, the comprehensiveness and depth of the program was quite unique. As a psychology major, previously concentrating almost exclusively in psychology, sociology and philosophy, this program was of particular value. Learning about the functioning of the UN system and the political philosophy of Sweden as well as that of the major world powers has made me more open minded and showed that no side is ever totally right or wrong. It has also stimulated a real interest in foreign affairs and a desire to keep informed of what is happening outside of Trenton, New Jersey.

I believe the way the course was handled was quite effectively. Giving us the independence to operate without close supervision gave us the confidence that we could do it by ourselves. There was no competition and the objective of our work was knowledge rather than a grade. Sharing views and ideas with members of our team and with other interesting students in New York, while upholding the position of our assigned country was the most outstanding educational experience that I have had at Rider.

On two levels - that of the actual workings of the U.N. and the experiencing of frustration and despair when working for world peace. A very rewarding and educational encounter to say the least.

The educational aspects vary so much, it's hard to put down in so few words. The knowledge of world affairs and attitudes learned is enough in itself, but the interaction and challenges with other schools on such a high level, I feel is the most important. There is not another course in this school that can give you this opportunity. The last important thing I received from this course is a tremendous amount of confidence. Competing with so called "top" schools and beating them, has given me confidence in what I am doing now as a student and I'm sure it will carry on into the future.

One of my teachers told me that it was a waste of time to go play around in New York, and miss his classes. If he could spend just one day watching us in session in New York, I think he would change his mind. Putting aside all the knowledge that you must have about the workings of the U,N., you must gather information about your country and other countries as well. In the past two years I feel I have learned more about world politics and the inner workings of a few countries than I ever could in a classroom. Along with learning how to work with others I have also become proficient in speaking in groups.

It's hard to describe exactly what I have learned in terms of facts and figures, but in terms of general knowledge I know that it Is much more than could ever be taught in one semester in a classroom situation. And, what's more is that for the most part, we the students, have taught it to ourselves.

As both an intellectual and a personal endeavor NMUN was extremely rewarding. I found myself intellectually motivated and stimulated and felt that the actual experience more than measured up to my expectations. One of the most outstanding features of the project was the fact that it was student run. I felt that I played an active role in making the NMUN what is was and this was a very gratifying and rare experience.

I believe that the educational experience I derived from participation in the 1976 NMUN was greater than any course I have taken so far. First of all I improved my public speaking abilities as well as learning rules and procedures in running a meeting. I learned how to interact with people through caucusing. To me this is a very valuable educational experience learning how to deal with other people especially those who have different views than you do. Also learning everything about a foreign country and trying to express the views of that country to others. Once again I thought that NMUN was one of the greatest educational experiences I have ever had.

NMUN offers Rider students a fine educational opportunity and experience. It provides the opportunity to learn how the United Nations operates and functions. A team member is able to realize the difficulty in solving world problems. Also NMUN gives us the opportunity to discover the opinions of different countries. It gives us the ability to look at our foreign policy from other country's view.

NMUN also gives us the opportunity to become an expert in the field of our choice.

Finally, NMUN is excellent in teaching us how to work with others and gives us vital experience.